Lubricating device



Nov. 7, 1939. c. E. DANIELs 2,178,932

LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed 9ct. 29, 1937 V IIL", a//

CLQIZQSE. Daniela?,

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE This invention relates to lubricating devices, and has particular reference to lubricating devices for supplying a dry powder lubricant, such as graphite, mica or the like, to machines such as internal combustion engines, steam engines, pumps, compressors and the like.

Generally speaking, the object of the invention is to provide a lubricating device for supplying a dry powder lubricant, which device is of simple, inexpensive construction and thoroughly reliable and efcient in operation.

According to one form of the `present invention a container for the dry powder lubricant is provided and the delivery of lubricant from said container is eiected by a negative pressure created in the machine to be lubricated during the operation of the machine. In this connection a special object of the invention is to provide valve means adjustable to regulate the admission of air to the lubricant container, thereby to regulate the amount of lubricant delivered from the container to the machine, and to dispose the air inlet and the lubricant outlet relative to each other so that the air breaks up the lubricant and causes it to be delivered in suspension in the air, rather than as a compact mass.

According to another form of the invention the delivery of the lubricant is through a meterying valve, and in this connection another special object of the invention is to provide for the delivery of small quantities of the lubricant and air alternately, whereby the air serves to break up the lubricant for delivery in dispersed form to the parts it isdesigned to lubricate.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel means whereby the flow of the lubricant may readily be observed; to provide a novel governor to regulate the operation of the lubricant feeding mechanism; and provide novel means for controlling starting and stopping of the mechanism.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and dened in the appended claims.

In the dra-wing, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in related views:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a section o n `the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 isav view partly in elevation and partly in sectionillustrating another form of the invention, and

4 Y Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, first with .5 particular reference Vto the form ofthe invention illustrated in Fig. 1, M designates a portion of a machine to be lubricated, such, for example, as an internal combustion engine, steam,

engine, pump, compressor or the like, and L des- 10 ignates, generally, the present lubricating device for supplying a dry powder lubricant to said machine.

The lubricating device L comprises a suitable base I0 which may be mounted on, or in juxta- 15 position to, the machine M in any suitable manner, and, as shown, said base is provided at its top with a collar II to accommodate the lower, open end of a container I2 for the dry powder lubricant. 20

Preferably the container `I2 is formed from glass or other suitable transparent material whereby the amount of lubricant contained therein may readily be observed, but, of course, said container may be formed from any other `245 desired material. Preferably, too, the collar II is either internally or externally threaded and the lower end of the container I2 is either externally or internally threaded for detachable, screw threaded vengagement with said collar. 30 However, any other suitable means may be provided for detachably mounting the container on the base IU. In any event, an upper portion I3 of the base Ill is formed with a conical depression I4 which underlies the container I2 when ,35 the latter is operatively mounted onl said base and into' which the lubricantgravitates from said container.

In the base Il) is a pair of small vertical openings I5 and I 6, the upper end ofthe former of 40 which opens into the lowermost portion of the depression I4 and the lower end of the latter of which opens throughA the bottom of the base I0 to the atmosphere. These openings are laterally spaced vapart'and are connected by a hori- 45 zontal passageway I'I having therein a valve seat I8 with which cooperates a needle valve I9 or a valve of any other suitable form which is threaded in said passageway I'I, or which otherwise is made adjustable, to regulatel the passage of `air 50 through said opening I6; the passageway I'I and the opening yI5 to the container I2.

Extending upwardly from the base II) so as to be disposed within and to reach nearly to the top of the container I2 when the latter is opera- 55 tively mounted on said base, is a lubricant and air outlet or delivery tube 20 which, at its upper end, is open, and which, at its other end, is connected, either directly or indirectly, with a part of the machin-e M in which a negative pressure is created when the machine is in operation.

Preferably the tube 20 does not lead directly to the machine M, but has interposed therein a means whereby the feed of the lubricant may readily be observed and a means for regulating the amount of lubricant fed for any given setting of the needle valve I9. The rst of these means may comprise, as shown, a casing 22 having therein a chamber 23 closed at its front by a cover 261 of glass or other suitable transparent material and having connected therewith and opening into said chamber a section of the tube 2B which leads from the container I2. Within said chamber, in surrounding relationship to the end of the said section of the tube 20, which opens into said chamber at the back thereof, is a mirror or the like 25 across which the lubricant passes in its flow to the machine M and which serves the purpose of providing a suitable background against which the owof the lubricant is plainly visible through the transparent cover 24.

rlhe casing 22 has formed therein a passageway 26 which, at one end, communicates with a lower portion of the chamber 23 and which, at its other end, is connected by a second section of the tube 26 with the machine M. In the casing 22 is a rotary valve 21 having therein a part 28 for alinementrwith and disalinement from said passageway 25 by rotation of said valve, thus either to permit an unobstructed flow of lubricant through said passageway, or a throttled flow of the lubricant, or a complete stoppage of flow of the lubricant, depending upon whether the valve 21 is fully open, or partly closed, or completely closed. The valve 21 is equipped with an operating handle 23 for effecting its rotation, and with a pointer 33 for cooperation with graduations on the front of the casing 22 to indicate opened, closed and partially opened positions of said valve.

The operation of the devi-ce, assuming a quantity of dry lubricant to be contained in the container l2, is as follows: Suction in the part of the machine with which the tube 2S is connected results in creating a negative pressure within the container l2, and when the valve I9 is opened and the valve 21 is fully or partly opened, this negative pressure results in air being drawn through the `opening l5, the passageway I1 and the opening l5, into the container I2 and through the tube 23 and the casing 22 to the machine M. Since the opening I is located at the bottom of the body of dry lubricant the air flowing inwardly through said opening passes through the lubricantand carries some of the lubricant with it in suspension to the upper, open end of the tube 2E! and through said tube and the casing 22 to the machine`M, where it is delivered to the machine parts to be lubricated. |The amount of lubricant so supplied to the machine M is, of course, regulated by regulation of the valves li and 21 and its flow may readily be observed through the transparent cover 24. Because of the laterally offset relationship of the openings I5 and I6 the lubricant is prevented from gravitating through said openings.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a disk-like deflector member 3l is mounted on the tube 20 near the upper, open end thereof to assist in causing a dispersion of the lubricant in the air within the container I2 prior to the air with the lubricant in suspension therein being delivered through the tube 20 to the machine M.

According to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a container I2a for the dry lubricant is provided at its top with a filling opening normally closed by a cap 32 and at its bottom with a lubricant outlet tube 20a which leads to a port 33 in a valve casing 34 which is provided with two additional ports 35 and 3G, the first of which opens to the atmosphere and the other of which is connected by a section of the tube 20@ with a part of a machine Ma in which a negative pressure is created during operation of the machine.

Within the valve casing 34 is a rotary valve 31 which is provided with ports 38 so disposed relative to each other that during rotation of said valve the port 36 and, consequently, the tube Z, is placed in communication alternately with the ports 33 and 35.

During operation of the machine Ma the Valve 31 is rotated in any suitable manner, and as a consequence of the suction or negative pressure in the pipe 20a and the alternate communication of said pipe with the ports 33 and 35, small amounts of the lubricant and air are alternately drawn through said pipe to the machine where they reach the parts of the latter to be lubricated, the air causing the lubricant to be dispersed as will be understood.

While the valve 31 may be driven in any suitable manner, it preferably is driven from a part of the machine to be lubricated. To this end said valve may be equipped with a Worm wheel 39 having meshing therewith a worm ill on a shaft 4I driven from any suitable part of the machine, said worm wheel and worm shaft being mounted within a suitable housing 42 mounted in any suitable manner on or adjacent to the machine.

Preferably the bottom of the container I2EL is inclined toward the tube 23a to assure flow of the lubricant to said tube, and preferably, too, the tube 20a has interposed therein a means 43 whereby the flow of the lubricant may readily be observed, and a Valve means 44 for regulating flow of the lubricant, these means 43 and lill being, if desired, counterparts of the means for the same purposes described in connection with the Figs. l and 2 form of the invention.

Preferably a governor means is provided to maintain the speed of rotation of the valve 31 within suitable limits despite variations in the speed of the shaft which furnishes the power for driving said valve. The power shaft is designated as 45 and may comprise a shaft of the machine Ma or any shaft driven from said machine. In either case,.said shaft i5 has a frictional driving connection with the worm shaft 4I as indicated at 46 and the worm shaft v4I has Xed thereon a plurality of blades 41 which are flexible and which normally are curved inwardly at their ends as indicated at All. With increase in speed of the shaft 4I the curved ends of said blades, under the action of centrifugal force and air resistance, tend to straighten and thus impose a braking action on the shaft I and when this braking action exceeds the friction of the driving connection 46 said connection slips.

Preferably the invention further includes means whereby the operation of the lubricant supply means' is stopped immediately the tube ZllfL no longer is subjected to a negative pressure, and is released for operation immediately said tube 2l)a is subjected to a negative pressure. This means may comprise, for example, a small cylinder i9 formed as part of the casing 3d, a plunger 5S slidable in said cylinder, a spring 5l constantly tending to slide said plunger in a direction to cause a portion 52 thereof to be projected into the path of the governor blades lll, and a connection 53 between the cylinder fis and the tube 253a so that when said tube is subjected to a negative pressure the suction in the cylinder 49 results in the plunger 52 being slid to withdraw the portion 52 of the plunger 5G from the path of rotation of the blades 4l. Thus, as is apparent, when the tube 2lia is not subjected to a negative pressure, the spring 5i projects the plunger Sil and as a consequence the portion 52 of said plunger acts as a stop for cooperation with the blades @S to prevent operation of the lubricant supply means. On the other hand, immediately the tube 29l is subjected to a negative pressure, the plunger 5S is retracted andthe lubricant supply means is released for operation.

If desired, an air lter 54 may be associated with the port 35 to clean the air drawn through said port for admixture with the lubricant.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lubricating device comprising a container for -dry lubricant, a tube extending downwardly from an Lipper portion of said container to a part of a machine to be lubricated which is subjected to a negative pressure during operation of the machine, means for the regulated supply of air to said container through dry lubricant contained therein, said tube being open at its upper end and having its upper, open end facing upwardly for oW of air and lubricant from said container downwardly into the same, and a member associated with the upper end of said tube to deflect air and lubricant flowing upwardly through the container outwardly before it may pass into the upper, open end of said tube and downwardly through said tube.

2. A lubricating device comprising a container for dry lubricant, a connection between a bottom portion of said container and a part of a machine to be lubricated which is subjected to a negative pressure during operation of the machine, and driven valve means included in said connection and operable to place said connection alternately in communication with said container and with the atmosphere so that .lubricant and air are alternately drawn through said connection during operation of the machine and operation of said valve.

3. A lubricating device comprising a container for dry lubricant, a valve casing having a port with which a bottom portion of said container is connected, said valve casing having two additional ports, one open to the atmosphere and the other connected with a part of a machine to be lubricated which is subjected to a negative pressure during operation of the machine, a rotary valve within said valve casing having ports disposed relative to each other so as alternately to place the port which is connected with the machine part in communication with the port connected with the container and the port which is open to the atmosphere, and means for driving said valve.

4. A lubricating device comprising a container for dry lubricant, a connection between said container and a part of a machine to be lubricated which is subjected to a negative pressure during operation of the machine, avdriven valve means included in said connection and'operable to place said connection alternately in communication with said` container and with the atmosphere so that lubricant and air are alternately drawn through said connection during operation of the machine and operation of the valve, means for driving said valve, and governor means for maintaining the speed of operation of said valve within predetermined limits.

5. A lubricating device as set forth in claim l in which the means for driving said valve includes a shaft geared to said valve, a power shaft having a frictional driving connection with said iirst mentioned shaft, and flexible blades fixed to said rst mentioned shaft and having inwardly curved ends to' be straightened under the action of centrifugal force and air resistance.

6. A lubricating device as set forth in claim 2 including means controlled by the pressure in the connection between the machine and the lubricant container ior controlling operation of the valve.

7. In a lubricating device of the characterdescribed, a container for dry lubricant, `a connection between said container and a part of a machine to be lubricated which is subjected to a negative pressure during operation of the machine, a casing in said connection having a chamber through which the dry lubricant passes from said container to the machine, said chamber having a transparent wall through which lubricant flow throughsaid chamber may be observed, and a mirror within said chamber behind said wall and behind the path of flow of dry lubricant through said chamber.

8. In a .lubricating device of the character described, a container for dry lubricant, a casing having a chamber a wall of which is transparent, a tube connecting saidcontainer with said chamber at a point behind said transparent wall, a mirror within said chamber facing said transparent wall and disposed so that dry lubricant ilowing from said container through said tube into said chamber passes over said mirror between the latter and said transparent wall whereby the flow may be observed, said casing having a passageway leading from said chamber, a manually adjustable valve controlling ow or dry lubricant through said passageway, and a tube connecting said passageway with a part of a machine to be lubricated which is subjected tol a negative pressure during operation of the machine.

CHARLES EDWARD DANIELS. 

